Uconn

All eyes on the quarterback as UConn opens vs. UMass By Ed Daigneault Republican-American

Connecticut quarterback Chandler Whitmer throws a pass during the second quarter of their spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 21, 2012, in East Hartford, Conn. (AP Photo/The Day, Tim Cook) MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT

STORRS — It is fitting that in another election season, we come to yet another in a long line of referendums on UConn quarterbacks.

It has been seemingly forever since the Huskies opened a football season without at least some question regarding the guy taking the snaps from center. Such will be the case again tonight when UConn plays host to UMass at Rentschler Field in the season kickoff for both teams.

Last year's starter, Johnny McEntee, has been replaced by junior college transfer Chandler Whitmer. For the second straight year, the Huskies start the season with a quarterback who has never taken a snap at the FBS level.

The most consistent thing about the quarterbacking job at UConn has been its inconsistency since Dan Orlovsky graduated after the 2004 season. There is some hope that will change with Whitmer.

"I feel good about Chandler," UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "He's worked hard. Chandler, like a lot of young quarterbacks at times, tries to do too much. He's getting better at that. Sometimes it's not the worst thing to just pull the ball down and run and get down on the ground before you get killed. It's not the worst thing to have to punt that ball.

"He just has to understand he has a team around him. We're not expecting him to go out and win every game for us."

Of course not, but it would be good if a UConn quarterback could win one here or there. It doesn't have to happen tonight, but certainly this is the first step in moving things along and finding one guy on whom the Huskies can count for a season.

UConn is superior to FBS newcomer UMass if what's on paper matters at all. The Huskies have experience at this level and the Minutemen do not. It should be the perfect opportunity for Whitmer, and an offense that is expected to have some difficult moments, to find some footing.

Fortunately for the offense, there should be some margin for error. The defense is expected to be among the best in the Big East and could sit among the best in the nation by the time 12 games are played. Mistakes are to be avoided, but making some early probably will not be overly costly for the UConn offense.

"I'm taking it one day at a time, getting better at whatever I'm asked to do, all the reads and checks," Whitmer said. "It's not my first time playing so I've made mistakes before and I've learned from them. I just have to accept what the defense is giving and get the ball where it needs to go, not try to do too much."

Whitmer should have better weapons at his disposal with running back Lyle McCombs fresh off a year of experience that saw him top 1,100 yards. The receiving corps has a bit more depth with the return of Michael Smith from academic issues and the addition of Boston College transfer Shakim Phillips, not to mention some maturity from Nick Williams and Geremy Davis.

McEntee was hamstrung by his limited physical abilities and a receiving corps that was mostly young and extremely thin. Scott McCummings will likely see action again as a change-of-pace quarterback, but Whitmer should have a decent opportunity to manufacture some consistency in the vertical game.

"Chandler's putting the ball in all the right places and he's making guys work," linebacker Sio Moore said. "He's going to be fine. I think he's going to surprise some people."

Pasqualoni would be fine with that. But it's not surprises he's hoping for tonight.

Opening games, especially against opponents who are unknowns, always provide shaky moments for coaches. The staff and players have done their due diligence. The final goal is merely to produce a positive result.

"I'd like to see us play smart, have a minimum of penalties and give great effort in all three phases," Pasqualoni said. "If we can get that out of this week, then we have a good start."

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